Aeroplane attachment.



BEST AVAILABLE COP Patented Nov. 12,1912,

NWT

J. R. FROBBRG.

ABROPLANE ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION rum :uns zo. 1912.

JOHAN RICHARD FROBERG, 0F RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA AEROPLANE ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led June 20, 1912.

Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

Serial No.' 704,752.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHAN R. FROBERG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Contra 'Ct ta and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Aeroplane Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

Y This invention relates to a releasing device for afroplanes and the like.

The object of the present invention is to i provide a simple, dependable yand easily operatedconnection.whereby an aeroplane may be restrained untili'its propelling mechanism is exerting the necessary propelling eii'ect to lift the aeroplane' immediatelyupon the release of the latter.

Theinvention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of an aeroplane, showing the attachment applied.'

Fig. 2 is a plan view inpartial section of the device. Fig. 3 is an edge view in partialsection of the release.

I have shown in the present embodiment of my invention an aeroplaneconsisting of a fuselage or body 2, provided with supporting aeroplanes 3. Upon each side of the aeroplane bodyA is att-ached a bracket or plate 4.

Upon the plate or bracket 4, which may be fastened to the apparatus by screws 5 or other suitable devices, there is formed a transversely projecting shank. 6 which is slotted to receive a latch 7 The latch 7 is pivoted at 8 to the shank 6, and the free end of the latch extends through a slot 9 formed in the plate 4. The latch 7 is formed with an outer convex 'curved surfacelO at its outer-end adapted to Ward off Weeds, bushes and other obstacles which maybe encountered during the iight or movement of the vessel. This latch 7 is provided on its op- -posite edge with a recess or notch 11 into Which is adapted to snap and rest a prong 12 of a cast-oif or tri latch 13 which is pivoted at 14 in suita le bearings on the plate 4. y

The cast-ofil 13 in addition to its longer arm or prong 12 which enters the latch notch 11 also has the cast-oif'arm 15 which has a concaved edge adjacent to the prong 12; the'root of the curve of the cast-off arm 13 being contiguous to the hul f the cast off, so that when a rope or other tie 16 is passed over the end of the cast-ott' arm 15 and this latter is turned until the lock prong 12 enters the latch seat 11, the bight of the cable' 16 will slip Wellrtoward the fulcrum 14, thus reducing the force applied tothe cast-off when theconnection 16 becomes taut.

The latch 7 is normally drawn toward the fulcrum 1l ofthe cast-off 16 by a contractile spring 17, one end of which is fastened to the latch and the other end of which is fastened to the plate t. The outer end of the "latch 7 is provided with a concaved seat or recess 18 adapted to embrace the tip of the cast-0H arm 15; the latter being provided with a convexly curved edge also for the purpose of Warding oft such obstacles as would tend to become entangled with the cast-oE device.

In operation, the aviator or his assistant passes the ends of the restraining cables 16 over the cast-oft arms 13 and the latch 7 snaps against the cast-off' arms so that the end of the arm 12 and the end of the arm 15 each engage their respective seat, the former for the purpose of restraining the cast-oft" arm when placed under tension bj the cable 16, and the latter for the purpose of forming a smooth exterior surface to avoid entangling With obstacles. Vhen the propeller of the aerial apparatus is sufficiently speeded to attain the necessary force to propel the ship, the operator may release the levers 7 by a pull on connecting Wires or cords 19, of which there is one connected to each latch 7 the cords running upwardly to and being connected With operating levers l2O mounted adjacent to the aviators chair 21.

The restraining cables 16 are attached to anchoring posts or other stationary elements 22. These will efectually prevent the movement of the aerial vessel until the operator throws the levers or lever 20 to unlatch the cast-off arm 13 from the restraining latch 7, whereupon t-he long arm 12 of the castoff being released Willsiving and the bight of the cable 16 Will slip oii" of the cast-off arm 13, thus releasing the aeroplane which may immediately begin its flight.. l

Having t-hus described myv invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Let-ters Patent. is-

1. In combination with an aerial apparatus, a plate attachable4 to the side thereof having a slot, a latch pivoted upon one side of the plate and projecting outwardly l `rope anchored at one end and adapted to be `through and to t-he opposite side of the plate, said latch having a recess and a castoff device pivoted upon the plate adapted to be restrained by engagementl with the recessed portion ot' the latch, said latch having a convexly curved forward surface, and means for pulling the latch to disengage the cast-oil.

2. A cast-ottl for aerial machines, comprising a plate having a slot and a. projection extending transversely from one side of the plate, a latchpivoted in said projection and extending through said slotl to the opposite lside of the plate, a spring connected to the latch and plate, a cast-off having a plurality `of arms each engageable with a seat formed for its reception 1n the latch, one of said cast-0H arms being concaved, a tension rope anchored at one end and adapted to be passed over the'.curved arm of the cast-oil', and means for operating the latch to release the cast-oil".

3. A cast-off for aerial machines, comprising a plate having al slot. and a projection extending transversely from one side of the plate, a latclipivoted in said projection and extending through said slot to the opposite side of the plate, a spring connected to the latch and plate, a cast-ott' having a plurality of arms each engageable with a seat formed for its reception in the latch, one of said cast-oil arms being concaved, a tension passed over the curved arm of the castel?, and means for operating the latch to release the cast-ott, the exterior forward edge of the latch being formed with a convex curve to Ward ott obstacles.

4. A cast-off forv aerial machines, comprising a plate having aslot and a projection extending transversely from one side of the plate, a latch pivoted in said projection and extending through said Slot to the opposite side of the plate, a spring connected to the latch and plate, a cast-ott having a plurality of arnis each engageable with a seat formed for its reception in the latch, one of said cast-off arms being concaved, a tension rope anchored at one end and adapted to be passed over the curved arm of the castoll, and means for operating the latch to release the cast-oil', the exterior forward edge of the latch being formed with a convex curve to Ward off obstacles, and the curved arm of the cast-off being adapted to enter and seat in the end of the latch, the tips of the latch and the cast-off arm being provided with a flush exterior surface.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHAN RICHARD FROBERG.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. HERRING, Genevieve S. DONELIN. 

